For all the folderol at the time, you'd have thought the blockbuster trade that made a Jet of Brett was a good thing for New York, and it probably was. But it also ran counter to the Jets' plans of running more counters – and running more in general, the major impetus for offseason additions of four free agents (guard Alan Faneca, tackle Damien Woody, tight end Bubba Franks and fullback Tony Richardson) and a line coach (Bill Callahan) to improve what had been a largely ineffective ground game.

Brett Favre wasn't brought to the Jets to hand off or pitch the ball, though, and there have been howls all over the Big Apple when the Jets chose to run the ball at some questionable times in a loss to the Tom Brady-free New England Patriots. Favre has attempted only 48 passes in his first two games with the Jets.

From what they saw of the Chargers' last game – not replays involving the referee, but the 18 receptions by Brandon Marshall and 36 completions by Jay Cutler, plus the shortcomings of a San Diego pass rush – the Jets likely have been dissuaded from focusing quite so heavily on the running game in San Diego. Especially with Favre back in prime-time.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brett Favre, QB: Gee, ya think? How do you not watch No. 4, the ultimate sandlot quarterback, the grizzled, silver-haired teenager? There's a reason the Green Bay Packers were on “Monday Night Football” 33 times during Favre's time as their living legend, including 15 straight seasons with at least one appearance. The last time out, last season, Favre completed 21-of-27 passes for 331 yards and two TDs in a memorable overtime victory against the Denver Broncos, decided on Favre's 82-yard pass to Greg Jennings on the first play of OT. Favre will, however, be playing on the same field where he lost a Super Bowl to John Elway.

David Harris, LB: In the absence of Brady, the Jets knew the Pats would be more reliant on their running backs, yet Kevin Faulk ran amok out of the backfield. Much of the discredit for that fell on Harris, the celebrated young linebacker who last season led the Jets in tackles as a rookie.

Thomas Jones, RB: It was with the idea of getting more out of Jones that the Jets went out and bought an offensive line. Even without sufficient blocking, Jones has ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards since 2005. (LaDainian Tomlinson, to nobody's surprise, is first by far.) He opened this season with 101 yards rushing against Miami and added 70 against New England, though the Pats stuffed him on three straight plays from the 3-yard line or closer.

FAMILIAR FACES

Now in his third year as Jets offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer was quarterbacks coach of the Chargers during father Marty's tenure as San Diego's head coach. New York's wide receivers coach, Noel Mazzone, was North Carolina State's offensive coordinator during Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers' senior season. Running backs coach Jimmy Raye is the father of Jimmy Raye III, a former San Diego State player who now is the Chargers' director of college scouting.